Bathtub



R. J. CORBETT BATHTUB Filed Jan. 3, 1967 April 14, 1970 Fl G.

I Y,L 4 44 4e INVENTOR ROBERT J. CORBETT ATTORNEY I I!!! Ill/Y fl 1/! FIG. 2

FIG. 3

United States Patent 3,505,693 BATHTUB Robert J. Corbett, 300 N. State St., Chicago, Ill. 60630 Filed Jan. 3, 1967, Ser. No. 606,831 Int. Cl. A47k 3/00 US. Cl. 4-173 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A bathtub having a front wall, a controlled source of water at the front end, a rear wall and a sloping bottom Wall whereby the bathtub may be filled at one end and drained at the other end at one side thereof.

This invention relates to bathtubs and, more particularly, to a novel bathtub which is adapted to tbe supplied with water at one end thereof and which is provided with a novel drain at the other end thereof.

For many years bathtubs have conventionally been made with the deepest portion at the front. Traditionally, water was supplied at the front end and the drain and overflow vent have also been located at the front end. There are many disadvantages to this construction. One disadvantage is that the water is deepest Where it is not needed. In order to obtain the proper bathing depth additional water is necessary. Another disadvantage of conventional bathtubs is that changing of the water temperature has been inconvenient. In order to increase the tempera ture of the tub water, it has been necessary to turn on the hot water and circulate the Water by hand to afford intermingling of the newly admitted hot water with the water already in the tub.

According to the present invention the drain may be opened and as hot water is admitted it readily circulates with the Water already in the tub because the drain is located at the rear.

One of the principal advantages of the bathtub of the present invention is in tub cleaning. In conventional tubs having a ring of scum it has been necessary to wet a cloth or sponge, apply cleanser to the scum area and then rinse the sides of the tubs with fresh water. The fresh water may be supplied on the cleansed area to remove the cleanser. The splashing process requires movement of the water rearwardly in the tub by hand until a Wave of water is brought into proximity with the rear sections of the side walls and the sloping rear Wall. At that time a wave of water may be conveniently supplied on these surfaces for removal of the cleanser. In the present invention rinsing water runs through the tub at all times and removal of the cleanser is greatly facilitated.

Another disadvantage of conventional bathtubs is that the drain opening is in the center of the tub at the front. According to the present invention the drain opening is adjacent one side wall where it can be easily reached.

A principal object of the invention is, therefore, to provide a bathtub which is characterized by convenience in use and cleaning and in which the total amount of water required for a proper bath is greatly reduced.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bathtub which is formed with a readwardly sloping bottom wall whereby the deepest water is where .the bather sits.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparcut as the description proceeds, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a bathtub made in ac cordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged elevational sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view of a drain closure mechanism forming a part of the bathtub of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURE 1, the bathtub of the present invention is indicated generally by reference numeral 10 and includes a top surface 12 and a front wall 14 having a rounded edge 16 at the line of juncture with the top surface 12. The front wall 14 has a generally sloping top portion 18 merging into a curved bottom portion 20. The curved portion 20 is connected to a bottom wall 22 which slopes generally from front to rear, as shown best in FIGURE 2. The rear of the bottom wall 20 joins with a curved portion 24 of a sloping back wall 26. The line of juncture between wall 26 and the top surface 12 is rounded as at 28. Water may be supplied to the tub of the present invention by means of a spout 30 and controlled by means of valve wheels 32 and 34.

According to an important feature of the present invention a drain 36 is located at the rear portion of the tub at one side thereof. The drain 36 is connected by means of a conduit 38 to an overflow vent 40 disposed in gently sloping side wall 42 which is joined to the top surface 12 by means of a curved edge 46. In like manner side wall 44 is joined to top surface 12 by means of a rounded edge 48. The bathtub illustrated has a side skirt wall 50' and an end skirt wall 52.

The drain closure mechanism is illustrated in FIGURE 4 and comprises a toggle 54 which is adapted to be mounted on the bathroom wall adjacent the valve wheels 32 and 34 and is pivotally connected beyond the surface of the wall to a link 56. Link 56 is pivotly connected at 58 to one end of a bell crank 60. The bell crank 60 is pivotly mounted on a standard 62. At the other end of the bell crank 60 is located link 64 which in turn is connected to one end of a bell crank 66. Connected to the other end of the bell crank 66 for movement therewith is drain closure plug 68. The bell crank 66 is mounted for pivota'ble movement on a standard 70.

For movement of the plug 68 to the open position illustrated the toggle 54 is moved downwardly to effect movement of the link 56 uuwardly. This results in pivotable movement of the bell crank 60 to move the link 64 to the right, and to effect'clockwise rotation of the bell crank 66. When filling of the tub is desired the toggle 54 is moved upwardly to move the link 56 downwardly for rotation of the bell crank 60 to effect movement of the link 64 to the left. This effects counterclockwise rotation of the bell crank 66 and downward movement to the plug 68 into engagement with seat 72.

The bathtub of the present invention exhibits important advantages over bathtubs heretofore known. For example, the present bathtub permits the proper water level for bathing with much less water than is required in conventional tubs. The location of the drain 36 at one side of the tub permits convenient cleaning. Furthermore, the present flow-through arrangement affords quick and efficient rinsing of the tub surfaces after cleaning.

It will be appreciated that the above described embodiments of the invention are merely illustrative and are not in any way to be considered to be limiting. Applicant intends to be bound only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A bathtub having sloping side walls, a front wall having a relatively straight top portion and a curved bottom portion, a rear wall having a gently sloping top portion and a curved bottom portion, a bottom wall joined to the curved bottom portions and sloping generally downwardly towards the rear Wall, a drain at the rear of said bottom wall at one side thereof, an overflow vent in said side wall adjacent said drain, and a controlled source of water at the front end of said tube whereby water may be introduced into said tub at the front end thereof and emptied from the rear end thereof.

2. A bathtub in accordance with claim 1 wherein a remotely controlled stopper is provided for said drain.

References Cited- UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,993,420 3/1935 Steele et al 4173 2,362,950 11/1944 Vieyra 4-173 5 2,799,025 7/1957 Kepler 4 173 3,257,669 6/1966 Fay 4 173 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner 10 H. K. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner 

